Canada has once again demonstrated its speed skating glory as the country’s women captured gold in the team sprint at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating event at the Olympic Oval in Calgary on Sunday and recalling the city’s 1988 Games glory.
With near-capacity crowd urging them on, the trio delivered a stunning performance, clocking a time of 1:24.90 to leap past Poland (+1.12) and Kazakhstan (+1.46) for the top spot on the podium.
It was the reigning World Champions’ first medal of the season and the first for this particular lineup of Carolina Hiller (Prince George, BC), Béatrice Lamarche (Quebec City, QC), and
Ivanie Blondin (Ottawa, ON). Their victory was the highest after finishing fourth in their previous outing in Beijing.
Meanwhile, the Canadian men’s team sprint narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth After a showcase duel with the reigning champion US team. The Americans set a new world record en route to gold, with the Netherlands (+0.56) and Poland (+0.60) taking silver and bronze, respectively.
The weekend’s results further cement Canada’s place as a powerhouse in speed skating and served as a reminder of the enduring legacy of the Calgary Olympic Oval. Built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, the Oval has become an iconic venue for world-class speed skating, earning its nickname ‘the fastest ice in the world.’
But that hallowed heritage is under threat as building proponents appealed for funding to fix its crumbling facades. Opened 35 years ago as the first covered speed skating venue in the Americas, the facility revolutionized the sport, offering a controlled environment free from the wind, snow, and rain that plagued outdoor races in years past.
Located over 1,000 metres above sea level, the Oval’s unique conditions thinner air and oxygen-depleted ice allowed skaters to reach speeds not achievable elsewhere. Legendary Canadian skater Jeremy Wotherspoon, who set 12 of his 17 world records there, described the sensation of skating on the Oval’s ice as ‘racing at the edge of human limits.’
But time has taken its toll. Beneath the iconic venue lies a network of 400 pipe connections essential for maintaining the ice. Years of wear and tear have led to damaging leaks, raising fears of a catastrophic failure.
Mark Messer, the Oval’s director, warned that without a major overhaul, the facility’s future is at risk. “The only way to actually fix this is to replace the floor. If we can’t make ice, we’re not an ice building.”
This weekend World Cup event highlighted both the international appeal of speed skating and Canada’s pivotal role in the sport. The event not only showcased Canadian talent but also underscored the Oval’s role as a global hub for the sport, organizers said.
The World Cup moves to Milwaukee next weekend and then onto the Netherlands and Poland.